Up to 30 inches of snow. That's how much some predicted could be dumped on Boston by the time this blizzard was done - which would amount to a new all-time snowfall record for the Massachusetts city, one hardly unfamiliar with winter storms.

These kind of forecasts, throughout the Northeast, were matched by frequent calls by officials to hunker down. The governors of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut ordered cars off the roads. In Boston, that translated to largely empty streets - spare a few plows - on what would have been Friday rush hour.

That meant fewer people out to experience the elements - in the form of small, icy snowflakes blowing in winds that, in some places, gusted up to 60 mph. That intensity of snow, and wind, was expected to continue - if not get even stronger - into Saturday morning.

[Updated at 6:17 p.m.] The storm has taken a toll on flights to and from the Northeast.

U.S. airlines have cancelled more than 4,700 flights that were to take off from Thursday to Sunday.

[Updated at 5:22 p.m.] CNN meteorologist Chad Myers explains part of why this storm is so worrisome: It combines two low pressure systems - one that had been dropping rain on Georgia, and another that was dropping snow on the Midwest.

The two centers are expected to combine around midnight. Somewhere around Rhode Island or Connecticut, Myers expects, might get around 36 to 40 inches of snow by the time the storm ends.

It's not just the snow that will be bothersome. Strong winds from the east are expected to bring storm surges of 3 to 5 feet onto parts of the Northeast coastline, Myers said.

Twenty-three million people live in the what the National Weather Service says is the blizzard warning area.
23 million people in blizzard warning area: Parts of northern New Jersey; New York City and Long Island; all of Connecticut and Rhode Island; parts of eastern Massachusetts, including Boston; and parts of southeastern New Hampshire and southern Maine.

[Updated at 5:09 p.m.] CNN's Jason Carroll reports from Boston that there's a little snow on the ground right now - the packing type, perfect for making snowballs. But the snow is expected to be powdery tonight - which, with strong wind gusts, will make visibility difficult.

Carroll talked to a woman who was out in south Boston with some children, getting in some sledding before conditions get difficult.

“I think it will be too much snow tomorrow to get out,” the woman said.

[Updated at 4:43 p.m.] More roads are closing - this time in Rhode Island.

[Updated at 4:34 p.m.] New York state has followed Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island in declaring a state of emergency because of the storm. If you're looking at the time that this is posted, catch New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's press conference here.

[Updated at 4:24 p.m.] Some driving are bans now in effect in Connecticut.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy says that cars and trucks - except emergency vehicles - are banned from traveling on at least some Connecticut highways after 4 p.m. as winter weather intensified across the region. Here's the order.

Earlier today, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick issued a driving ban - with some exceptions - that went into effect at 4 p.m. Generally, the exceptions are for public safety workers, public works employees, government officials, utility workers, health care workers and the news media. Get details here.

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